134 If only karma was so simple (2/2)

Yuan Xuelan hissed, disgust was plain on his face, ”What happened at the northern gates!?”

There was a slight smile under the butterfly mask, the voice that came out was not like the Guanghai Elder's usual lazy and carefree tone, instead it was lyrical and soft but also sharp.

”You already know the answer to that, Young Maser Yuan.”

A dark part of Yuan Xuelan's heart told him that the comrades he left behind were indeed already dead thanks to this evil man that stood before them. He cursed loudly, ”You fucker! You'll pay for what you did!”

”If only karma was so simple,” the butterfly mask man answered with a sighing hum.

The Ivory Sword Saint no longer remained silent and took a step forward, ”Why are you doing this?” He asked coldly.

His Shizun gazed at from behind the mask, his pupils vacant and gray. He ignored Liu Sumeng's question and asked instead, ”Has there ever been a wish that weighed upon your heart so heavily? So vividly? Yet ever so out of reach. Beyond your power.”

Yuan Xuelan hissed, ”Shut up, you piece of shit!” Annoyed and not wanting to hear any more of some useless psycho's monologue, he rushed forward with Silei, flames roaring around the blade.

Liu Langce parried him easily, stepping aside with little effort. ”Tell me, Young Master Yuan, what is it you so desire the most, that you could never hope to have?”

”Get lost!” He twirled within a swirl of magnificent reds and oranges, fire licking at the narrow golden halls, bringing light. It didn't even singe a single string of fabric on the Guanghai Elder's clothes.

”Be careful,” Liu Sumeng warned, ”He's no simple opponent.”

The Guanghai Elder's voice continued to tumble out of his mouth like a low melodic drawl, ”Perhaps you wish to become the world's most renowned craftsman. Or make sure your cute Shijie never comes to harm from your own foolishness.”

Yuan Xuelan felt a gripping chill at every word, which only caused his movements to become more frantic.

”Or maybe you wish to have your organs back, so you might live without exhausting the life of that little phoenix who dwells within you.”

Sparks flew as Silei clashed against the scimitar. The ringing bell was unusually loud and shook even the foundations of Yuan Xuelan's soul. Sweat beaded upon his brow.

Liu Langce's voice was as calm as ever, smooth and unrelenting, ”Oh, I understand. What you desire most isn't any of those things. But if it's the Ivory Sword Saint you wish you have under your grasps, that is something that I can give you.” He leaned in close, brushing Yuan Xuelan's ear with a sickening hum, ”I can even give you ownership of his mind, body and soul. That, after all, is what you truly want.”

Yuan Xuelan felt sick, his eyes widened with fury, embarrassment and white-hot rage.

”Shut the fuck up! You don't even know what--” He twirled around, pulses of divine fire shot out, but the Ivory Sword Saint was there when he was too slow to react to the scimitar's edge coming for his neck.

”Leave him alone,” Liu Sumeng bit out coldly, his eyes dark. Liu Langce's strength was terrible but he did not care for his muscles straining, did not care if he had to suffer a cut just to step in close and aggressive.

”A-Chao,” the Guanghai Elder's voice singsonged, ”And what is it that you desire most?” He parried Mingshui's sharpened edge and danced around him on the balls of his feet, seeming to disappear from Liu Sumeng's sight and reappearing behind his back. ”Perhaps you hope to save Young Master Yuan from his descent into madness. Or perhaps you want to change Lady Chen's inevitable fate? Tell me, A-Chao, and I can fulfil those desires of yours.”

The Ivory Sword Saint kept only a thin facade of calm, the echo of a ringing bell sounded in the marrow of his bones.

Yuan Xuelan was behind them and shook his head to regain his composure. The fog in his mind cleared if only a little. It had to. He wanted to help Sumeng. He wanted to jump into the fray. With a steadying breath, he held back the chaotic whirls that plague his thoughts.

Liu Sumeng did not need his protection. Even against this insane Guanghai Elder he could hold his own much longer than Yuan Xuelan could claim to.

What Liu Sumeng needed was Yuan Xuelan's trust.

Trust in his power, his strengths. Trust in his intentions, his thoughts. His feelings.

It was not easy but Yuan Xuelan felt that there was no other choice. So he held himself back from jumping into the fray, waiting patiently for just the right moment. Stopping himself from reacting when the scimitar cut into Liu Sumeng's arm, he focused on gathering his power.

Yuan Xuelan's breathing slowed.

The Guanghai Elder's chest tensed just slightly.

A bestial instinct took over Yuan Xuelan's limbs. He snapped his arm and wrist up, a blitz of fire and lighting shot toward the Guanghai Elder and Liu Sumeng.